Pettrs



(-No Moder.)

B. F. EDGAR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

PROCESS OF BURNING GARBONAOEOUS MATERIAL.

A Patented Apr. 30, 1889.

(N0 Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. F, EDGAR.

, PROGESS 0F BURNING GABBONAGEOUS MATERIAL. No. 492,422. Patented Argso', 1889.

Ewen/Zak;

N. PETERS. vnowumugrb hm Wasiflnglon, 04c.

UNITED STAT PATENT I OFF-IC ELLIS F. EDGAR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF BURNIING CARBONAC'EOUS MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 402,422, dated April 30,1889. Application filed February 21, 1839. Serial No. 300,693. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it 11mg concern: 7

Be it known that I, ELLIs F. EDGAR, of New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Processes of Burning Carbonaceous Material; and I doherebyde 'clare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others. skilled in theart to which it ap pertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and

to the letters of reference marked thereon,

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive boiler and furnace towhich my invention has been applied, part of the wall being broken awayto more clearly exhibit its peculiar features. Fig. 2 is averticalcross-sectional view on line a; 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view inperspective of the attachment (partly in section) by the use of which mynew process may be practiced. Fig. 4 is a View, also in perspective andwith parts broken away, of a cooking-stove fittedwith said apparatusFig. 5

is a front elevation of the fire-box of said stove. Fig. 6 is' a centralvertical cross-sectional View of said fire-box. Fig. 7 is a frontelevation of a base-burning self-feeding parlor-stove, the novelarrangement of an appa ratus for carrying out my process being'shown insection. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the supporting-disk of said stove, andFig. 9 is a similar view of the air-distributor located within saidstove.

. In the majority of apparatus at present used for producing heat by thecombustion of coal and similar fuel much of the gas and unconsumedmatter rising from the surface of the body of coal under consumptionpasses off into the pipe or chimney without being burned, which is asource of great waste. The present theory is that this is caused by thelack of additional air (or oxygen) supplied at the proper point and inthe proper manner and quantity to combine with said unconsumed matterand result in the complete utilization of the fuel, and this is to someextent true; but it is also true that not only must additional air befurnished, but it must be furnished in proper distribution, and theremust also be provision made forigniting the combination to produce thebest result; and it is in the direction of these twofeatures that theprincipal novelties lie, the remainder consisting of conveniences forcarrying out theseprincipal purposes.

In the drawings, F is the fire of the apparatus. In Fig. 1 it isprovided with ordinary grate-bars, G, and door D indeed is identicalwith well-known apparatus. Within this space and between'the grate forthe coal, 0, and the draft-exit E (here located above the coal) isplaced a support, S, made of incombustible material, which may be aperforated diaphragm, as shown, supported by sidepieces, the onlyrequirements being that it shall permit the passage of gases from oneside totheother (here the lower side to the upper) through itsperforations and shall be capable of supporting refractory material B,about to be described. Upon this support I placea quantity ofincombustible material -A extend usually from one side to the other,

being connected at the ends by a general conduit, A, opening into A andpreferably, also,

into a connection leading to the outer air. These conduits A areperforated, preferably, at the sides with small apertures ct, openingwithin the mass of clay balls in what I term the combining-chamber ofthe apparatus.

Such arrangement insures even and general distribution of air throughthe mass of refractory material B, which may be controlled by a damper,as shown in Fig. 7, if desired. It is found best that airshould beintroduced by these means directly into the mass of refractory materialB, and there combined with the gases and matter passing through saidmass from s. As in this way avery small quantity of air is met by asmall quantity of gas in the interstices between refractory material Bthe combination is instantaneous, perfect, and easily regulated as toproportions, with box or space.

no danger of explosion when ignited, when, if air were forced into aconsiderable open space, there combined with said gases, and then passedthrough a mass of heated balls, the combination would be imperfect, theregulation difficult, and the operation attended with some degree ofdanger. V

In locomotive and marine boilers I usually cover the mass of refractorymaterial 13 with a second diaphragm, S, also perforated, for the purposeof preventing refractory material B from being drawn out of the stack bythe great draft. The fuel may be introduced through door D in the usualmanner.

The arrangement in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is substantially similar, theVariation being in making the grate or fire-basket in the form of adrawer, D, that it may be opened to add fuel to the fire, and theconduit A is extended along the front and rear; but it might readily besupplied through a door, as in the case of the furnace.

In Fig. '7, to adapt the apparatus to a selffeeding stove, a disk ordamper, D, is supported upon a short post or rod, R. Above this is acone, C, provided with openings at the base, registering with those of Dand others in its side walls. Its base projects sufficiently to sustaina circular grate, G, which, as well as D, I provide with handles II.From the wall of the stove I suspend a circular lining, which, beingdouble, forms an air-conduit, A and other conduits, A and A, crosswiseand circular, all connecting, are combined therewith. A is provided witha damper, (Z, preferably upon its outer wall that it may not permitdraft from the coal fire through A and its base-wall projects inward,forming a rim which supports the hollow truncated coneshaped perforatedsupport Siwhich surrounds the reservoir for the coal and supports theballs B, already described, substantially as S does in the other formsof apparatus.

The whole apparatus might be supported from the bottom or top or by atripod suspended from legs on the frame; but I prefer the arrangementshown, and, too, I prefer to have the grate somewhat lower than the baseof conduit A as thereby the formation of clinker is largely avoided, andwhat is formed, if any, may be easily removed.

Coal can be introduced into its appropriate space and fired. The heattherefrom passing through 8 and the interstices between refractorymaterial B, in its natural course, quickly raises them to a high degreeof heat. Then air being admitted through its conduits combines with thegases and particles of unconsumed matter passing between refractorymaterial B, is instantly ignited by the heat of refractory material B,and produces more heat, every particle being thereby consumed and nonepermitted to escape and be wasted.

Vhen fresh fuel is added in ordinary apparatus, much smoke arises andthere is a temporary lowering of the temperature; but in my apparatusthe smoke being combined with air in the combining-chamber and ignitedby the still highly-heated balls is consumed and no smoke results-but agreat saving of fuel. Then, too, the large mass of refractory material Bonce heated prevents the rapid variation of the temperaturea result muchto be desired.

I find it desirable to have the balls B of larger size at the bottom (ornext the coalspace) than at the top, (or farthest from it,) as I therebypermit free combination at the bottom, and, as it were, check the escapeat the top or toward it sufficiently to insure the ignition of theentire combined fuel and air.

I have found by actual experiment that a high heat may be maintained fora much longer period with a given quantity of coal with this apparatusused in this method than by any other known to me, and for manypurposes-such as boilingthe heat from the incandescent balls is muchsuperior to that obtained directly from a mass of burning coal.

IVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The process of producing heat by igniting a mass of fuel, passing theflame, gas, and unconsumed particles thereof between the interstices ofa mass of small pieces of highlyheated incombustible material,introducing air by separate passage-ways evenly and generally throughoutthe interstices of said mass, there combining it with the unconsumedmaterial of fuel passing through said interstices,

and there igniting the combined mixture by the heat of saidincombustible mass, substantially as set forth.

2. The process of producing heat by igniting a mass offuclfpassing theflame, gas, and unconsumed particles thereof between the interstices ofa mass of small pieces of incombustible material, which said intersticesare smaller at the point farthest from the fuel than at that nearest toit, and which material is thereby highly heated, introducing air byseparate passage-ways evenly and generally throughout the interstices ofsaid mass, there combining it with the unconsumed particles of fuel andgas passing through said interstices, and igniting the combination bythe heat of said incombustible mass, substantially as set forth.

3. The process herein described of burning carbonaceous material byfirst locating a mass of incombustible material in the line of draft tothe chimney, then causing the gases from the combustion-chamber to entersaid mass, retarding their progress and causing them to take acircuitous route, then supplying air to said retarded gases in finelyand evenly distributed quantities, whereby the mixture of the air andgases is brought in contact with highly-heated mass of the incombustiblematerial, as set forth.

4. The process herein described of burning carbonaceous material,consisting in passing the products of combustion through a highly-heatedmass of refractory incombusti- In testimony that I claim the foregoingas ble material, and introducing atmospheric air my own I affix mysignature in presence of 10 finely divided into said mass in such mannertwo witnesses.

that it is evenly and generally distributed 5 throughout the mass and inthis state meets ELLIS EDGAR and mingles with the products ofcombustion, Witnesses: whereby perfect combustion takes place, as O. E.DUFFY,

set forth. 0. M. WERLE.

